Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant William Dinwiddie succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained on December 3, 1901, when he and Patrolman Robert Saylor were shot after responding to a disturbance at a local tavern on Central Street in Knoxville.
The suspect involved in the disturbance was the famous outlaw known as Kid Curry. The suspect immediately opened fire on the officers, wounding them both before fleeing.
Sergeant Dinwiddie was shot in the chest. Despite returning to work, he was often unable to patrol his full eight-hour shift. The bullet moved from his chest to his back over the years. His death, 12 1/2 years later, was attributed to the complications of the gunshot wound to his chest.
Patrolman Robert Saylor succumbed to his wounds on December 23, 1914.
Sergeant Dinwiddie had served with the Knoxville Police Department for 21 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, daughter, and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-1B51A84E- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
21 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Dinwiddie gave the Knoxville Police Department 21 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Knoxville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Dinwiddie.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant William Dinwiddie is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Knoxville Police Department, 12 of 17 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Dinwiddie's cause is highlighted.
How William Dinwiddie Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed suicide
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Dinwiddie is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Dinwiddie was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
16 officers from Knoxville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
